FURORE OVER CJN COMMENT NEEDLESS – MURIC

 

16^th December, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

FURORE OVER CJN COMMENT NEEDLESS – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the fallout of the comment made by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, as needless and politically motivated. MURIC advised those behind the brouhaha to find something better to do.

 

 

This was disclosed in a press statement circulated among journalists on Friday, 16^th December, 2022 by the director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads:

 

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, was recently alleged to have said that he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was among the G-5 governors. Although the comment was immediately denied, mischief makers have since continued to twist it in order to suit their narratives.

 

 

“MURIC is not surprised by this turn of events since we are in the season of social media which is the harbinger of fake news, lies, fabrications, misinformation and disinformation all of which aim at tarnishing the image of good people for narrow ends. We strongly condemn this attempt to drag the good name of CJN Ariwoola in the mud. It is preposterous, egregious and odoriferous.

 

 

“We have no scintilla of doubt that CJN Ariwoola’s comment was deliberately twisted for political and selfish gains. It is designed to denigrate and disparage the CJN for cheap political gains. Those who continue to publish this arrant nonsense are doing so because they are looking for sensational news to justify their take home pay and retain their readership.

 

“It is also an open secret that the ‘pull them down syndrome’ (PhD) is often activated whenever people of a certain section of the Nigerian population occupy public office. The machinery is then quickly set in motion to put stumbling blocks in their path.

 

“This G-5 comment attributed to CJN Olukayode Ariwoola is just one of those cock and bull stories concocted to demarket a public officer who does not belong to that section of the elite class which brandishes the notorious birth right mentality.

 

“MURIC affirms that the CJN Ariwoola brouhaha is sheer social media masturbation promoted by political charlatans and professional shenanigans. It is fuelled by mere sentiment, envy and bitterness. This furore is luciferous, wasteful and totally needless. We advise those behind it to find something better to do.”   

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC TO MAKINDE: STOP FORCING MUSLIM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO SING CHRISTMAS CAROL

 

12^th December, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO MAKINDE: STOP FORCING MUSLIM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO SING CHRISTMAS CAROL   

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of aiding and abetting Oyo State school authorities who are in the habit of forcing Muslim students and Muslim teachers to sing Christmas carol.

 

 

The group cited the example of St Annes schools, Molete, Ibadan, whose principals forced Muslim students and Muslim teachers to join in singing Christmas carol today, Monday, 12^th December, 2022. MURIC condemned the action as extremist, feudalistic and provocative.

 

 

In a statement issued on Monday, 12^th December, 2022, the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola said:

 

 

“Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has emboldened school authorities in Oyo State to force Muslim students and Muslim teachers to sing Christmas carol. This became clear today, Monday, 12^th December, 2022 when St. Annes School 1 Senior, St. Annes School 2 and St. Annes Junior School forced Muslim students and Muslim teachers in the schools to join Christians to sing Christmas carol inside a church situated opposite the school.

 

 

We hold Seyi Makinde responsible for the repression of Muslim students and Muslim teachers. Those school authorities have taken the cue from the governor.

 

 

“Under Seyi Makinde’s watch, Muslim students were herded like sheep to attend the crusade of a German Christian crusader, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda in November 2021. Oyo State public schools were used for the crusade during school hours. Again under Makinde’s watch, Muslim applicants attending a screening exercise for appointment were made to answer questions on the Bible in August 2020. Under Makinde’s watch, Muslim teachers were forced to attend a screening exercise on Salah day in July 2022. Yet these are schools using public funds and Muslims are the majority among tax-payers in the state.

 

 

“Makinde has a plethora of anti-Muslim actions for which he has never apologised. We have no doubt that he will continue to condone the persecution of Muslim students and Muslim teachers until he is kicked out of office. We therefore remind Oyo State Muslims to take their destiny in their own hands by using their voting power to send away their traducer.

 

 

“Being a Christian governor is no crime as long as the governor is fair to all. But Seyi Makinde has been an unrepentant goader of anti-Muslim antics. He has never taken any action against fanatical school principals and teachers who traumatise Muslim students and teachers. That means he has been goading them, egging them on and aiding and abetting their tyranny.

 

 

“We have no doubt that he is going to do nothing about St. Annes school where today’s atrocity was committed against Muslim students and teachers. We have no alternative than to ask Muslims to vote him out. We need a tolerant governor: one who will grant religious freedom to both Christians and Muslims. Seyi Makinde must go.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC SLAMS INEC FOR HOLDING MEETING INSIDE CHURCH

 

7^th December, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC SLAMS INEC FOR HOLDING MEETING INSIDE CHURCH  

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the Lagos Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for scheduling its meeting to be held inside a church in Ikeja, Lagos, instead of using a neutral venue.     

 

 

MURIC’s condemnation was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 7^th December, 2022 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

He said:

 

“The Lagos headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow, Thursday, 8^th December, 2022. Unfortunately the organisers have picked Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, as the venue of the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje.

 

 

“This is very disappointing. How can an electoral body of INEC status pick a religious house of worship as venue for its meeting? Is the meeting for the Christian wing of INEC or what? Is INEC meeting members of the church? This is balderdash. It is unacceptable.

 

 

“The choice of a church as venue for a meeting of INEC is very insensitive particularly given the very volatile situation we are in Nigeria today. It is an open secret that Christian pastors are deeply involved in political campaigns. Many of them have turned 2023 election into a straight fight between them and the Muslims.

 

 

“INEC Lagos Headquarters has taken a false step. Holding an electoral body’s meeting inside a church is like holding it inside the secretariat of one of the political parties. It erodes confidence. It is totally wrong particularly in a situation whereby the church has publicly revealed that it is an interested party in the ongoing electioneering exercises.

 

 

“Why pick a church when there are hundreds of neutral places all over Lagos? Is INEC promoting the church’s vested interest in the 2023 election? Is some kind of connivance in the offing? INEC Lagos headquarters must prove to Lagosians that their votes will count. We call on Lagosians to watch the activities of INEC from now on because we are not convinced that it is going to be neutral. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

 

 

“We advise INEC Lagos headquarters to steer clear of churches for any of its activities except those meant for church members alone. The same goes for mosques and shrines. INEC has no business using places of worship for their activities. It is hoped that the national secretariat of INEC will caution its Lagos headquarters.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

APPROVAL OF HIJAB: MURIC THANKS TINUBU, LASG

 

6^th December, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

APPROVAL OF HIJAB: MURIC THANKS TINUBU, LASG

 

The Lagos State Government (LASG) yesterday issued an official circular which formally approved the use of hijab in all Lagos schools. This was sequel to the appeal made yesterday by an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene in the hijab affair in Lagos State.  

 

 

Consequently, MURIC has expressed gratitude to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu and others for their role in facilitating the issuance of the circular.

 

The statement reads:

 

“Sequel to the appeal made by our organisation yesterday, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has issued an official circular which formally approved the use of hijab in all Lagos schools.

 

“It will be recalled that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), appealed yesterday to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to wade into the delay in the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgement on hijab in Lagos State schools.

 

 

“MURIC expresses profound appreciation to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for rising to the occasion. We also thank the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for giving the final approval.  Both the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Okunola and the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, for their constructive engagement which eventually led to the fruitful outcome.

 

 

“Equally worthy of mention are those who were involved in high-level diplomatic consultations behind the scene in the past 48 hours towards resolving the impasse. This resulted in treating the matter with military dispatch and the emergence of the circular within 24 hours. We are very grateful to them.

 

 

“MURIC congratulates the Muslim lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), the Lagos Muslim Community and the entire Muslim Ummah who have shared our concerns over the years for the issuance of this historic circular.

 

 

“With this new development, MURIC pledges to double its pursuance of the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the second tenure goal of Governor Sanwo-Olu. We call on all Islamic organisations in the country and all lovers of good governance to join hands with us in ensuring that these two goals become fait accompli.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)